Free rapid COVID tests a thing of the past in Alberta, unless you're really lucky

The days of access to free rapid COVID-19 tests are over, unless you stumble across a pharmacy with a few boxes left, and most Albertans wishing to test for the virus now have to pay out of pocket.

The Alberta government has received its full allotment through the free federal government program, which ended earlier this month. Now its entire stockpile has been distributed.

"I still get phone calls and people walking in requesting the kits," said Heba Elbayoumi, pharmacist and owner at Heathers Pharmacy in Calgary.

"They are non-existent. There is no inventory to be ordered."

She hasn't been able to order any for several months. And this comes at a time when COVID-19 case counts and positivity rates are on the rise.

"The temperature drops and viral infections thrive. So it's a critical time for Albertans to have decent access to the COVID testing kits," said Elbayoumi.

At Two Pharmacy in Cochrane, pharmacist Ian Kruger is in the same situation.

"It's been months, for sure, since we last had a shipment. We have given away all of our publicly funded ones," he said. 

"We still have multiple requests in a week, people looking for tests, which is fair. And it's really too bad that I have to turn people away who are just looking to confirm whether or not they have COVID."

No more free supply

The federal government, which had been supplying provinces with free rapid COVID-19 tests, ended its procurement and distribution program on Oct. 1.

"There are currently no plans to replenish the federal inventory," a statement from Health Canada read in part.

As a result, Alberta is no longer receiving shipments.

"Alberta has received our full allocation of free rapid antigen tests from Government of Canada and the stock has been distributed to pharmacy wholesalers," a spokesperson for Alberta Health said in an email.

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"Although supply may be limited, there are still a number of pharmacies across Alberta that continue to have a supply of the free rapid antigen tests to provide to Albertans."

The province said people can check out this map for a list of pharmacies stocking the free rapid antigen tests.

CBC News contacted a number of pharmacies on that list.

Most no longer have publicly funded rapid tests available. Some stores were about to run out, one had some expired boxes and one Edmonton pharmacy reported having roughly three dozen test kits in stock with expiry dates in December.

According to the province, the last of the federally supplied rapid antigen test kits expire on Dec. 10.

"If Albertans are unable to find a pharmacy offering free-of-charge, rapid antigen tests, they may choose to purchase a testing kit from a pharmacy or an online retailer," the spokesperson said.

Some but not all pharmacies are ordering private stock of the rapid tests and selling them.

CBC News spoke to a number of stores doing that and found prices ranging from $5 to $10 for a single test.

Meanwhile, some pharmacists worry people won't bother testing if they have to pay out of pocket.

And Elbayoumi is concerned about access.

"It's an added expense, especially for seniors and vulnerable populations — people who have cancer treatments going on," she said.

"So it's affecting a vulnerable population. It's a crucial tool and we would like to be able to have access to it."

Alberta Health said PCR tests are still available for people at risk of becoming seriously ill — if the test is needed for their medical care — and to control outbreaks in high-risk facilities.